Filling-replenishing loom



A. E. RHOADES.

FILLING BEPLENISHING LO0M.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28,1919.

Patented June 1, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET ALONZO E, RHOADES, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, COREORATION 0F MAINE.

FILLING-BEPLENISHING LOOlVL I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ju'ne 1, 1920.

Application filed July 28, 1919. Serial No. 313,953.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, ALoNzo E. RHoADns, a citizen of the United States residing at Hopedale, in the county of VV orcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Filling Replenishing Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to filling replenishing looms, and more particularly to the hopper or battery mechanisms of such looms whereby filling carriers are automatically supplied in position for transfer to the shuttle on call for replenishment of filling.

It is the common practice at the present time to provide some character of yielding means to support a filling carrier when it is in transferring position. In looms of the Northrop type, wherein a rotary hopper is employed for holding a series of filling carriers and moving them successively to transferring position, it is common to pr0- vide an abutment against which the filling carrier bears when in transferring position, and to provide on the opposite side portion of such filling carrier a yieldingly. mounted arm, which, when the filling carrier is transferred through the usual transferring throat, yields downwardly or backwardly to permit the filling carrier to pass. At the moment of transfer the lay is in substantially its front position, 'and the yielding arm or support has sometimes in its downward movement entered or approximately.

entered the shuttle cavity to assist in directing the filling carrier into the shuttle. In other constructions the yielding arm has yielded downwardly to a somewhat less extent. In other forms of supports, they have been mounted for backward movement from the position beneath the filling carrier and in a direction transversely to the longitudinal axis of the filling'carrier One of the objects of'the presentinvention is to improve the yielding support for the filling carrier when in transferring position, and to provide for its movement in a direction longitudinally of the filling carrier from beneath an end portion thereof as the filling carrier is transferred, the result being that all danger of injury either to the filling carrier or filling on the carrier,

or the shuttle beneath is obviated, and a reliable and efficient means is provided for in'suring'the retention of the filling in its transferring positionuntil the moment of transfer. .This feature of the invention may be variously contrived, and is adapted for various forms of hopper supply mechanisms, but its advantages are especially apparent when employed with the well known type of Northrop loom, wherein the hopper is of the rotary type to successively-carry the filling carriers to transferring'position.

The above and other objects of the present invention will hereinafter be described in connection with a battery or rotary hopper, and the novel features and combine tions will then be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings Figure '1' is a transverse section through the battery and lay or shuttle-box at the filling replenishing side of the loom, showing the present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail showing one good practical form of the yielding means for supporting the filling carrier in transferr ng position;

Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section through 7 the stand and head of a rotary hopper on an enlarged scale, showing one good form of the'present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3,

showing a modified form of the invention.

usual type, and being well known to those skilled in the art, further description thereof is unnecessary. Mounted in the head 4 is the stud or shaft 9 on which is mounted the rotary hopper, only one end portion of which is illustrated. The rotary hopper comprises the disk portion 10 provided with suitable holding recesses or other means 11' into which the but or head end portions 12 portions of the series of filling carriers, and

rotary movement of the hopper may be effected at desired times by means of the ratchet wheel 13 and the usual actuating pawl 14 (Fig. 1), the construction being such that filling carriers contained in the rotary hopper may be successively brought to transferring osition after each transfer.

The lay 15 *ig. 1) may likewise be of the usual type provided with the usual shuttle-box 16 in'which the shuttle rests at the moment of transfer.

Mounted in the stand or head 4 is an arm carrying a filling carrier supporting end portion which projects from the arm long1- tudinally beneath one end of the filling carrier when the filling carrier is in transfer ring position. One form of such arm is indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, wherein it comprises a member 17, the lower end support ing portion 18 of which extends from the member 17 inwardly from the head 4 in a plane substantially parallel to a vertical plane passed longitudinally through the axis of a filling carrier when in transferring position. The member or arm 17 is provided with a slotted portion 19 through which passes a pin 20, the head 4 being proyided with a recess 21 for the accommodation of the member or arm 17, the construction being such that the member or arm 17 may be moved vertically within the limits of the slot 19.

The arm or member 17 is normally uncle hthe influence of a spring 22, one end of which is connected at 23 with the upper end of the arm 17, and the other end 24 of which is anchored to the head 4 by suitable means such as the pin 25, the construction being i such that the arm or member 17 is normally held in its upper position as indicated in Fig.2, at which time the end supporting portion 18 of the arm extends inwardly -,in a direction longitudinally of the filling carrier from the arm or member 17, and beneath the head or butt end of a filling carrier in transferring position. The arm 17 is provided with a cam portion 26 which bears upon the rest 27 formed in the'head 4. On the side of the arm opposite the cam or inclined portion 26 is a similar cam or inclined portion 28 which engages a pin or other rest 29 secured to the head 4, the construction being such that when the arm or member 17 is moved from its normally raised to a depressed position, the cam por tions 26 and 28 acting against their respective rests will impart to the arm or member 17 a movement in a direction longitudinally of the filling carrier beneath which the end 18 of the arm 17 projects. The arm or member 17 is guided in its movement longitudi-.

' filling carrier a (Fig. 1) will be positioned by the rotary hopper with one side resting against the abutment 7, and the head end portion of the filling carrier above the end supporting portion 18 of the arm 17, and thus prevent accidental displacement of the filling carrier from transferring position.

When a filling carrier is transferred to the shuttle by the transferrer 8, it will be moved downwardly into engagement with the supporting end portion 18 of the arm 17, and cause such end portion and perforce the arm to move downwardly, whereupon the inclined or cam portion 26 of the arm rid ing over the rest 27 will cause the arm to move in a plane substantially parallel to a vertical plane passing longitudinally through the axis of the filling carrier then being transferred, thereby withdrawing the supportingend 18 longitudinally of the filling carrier from beneath the end thereof and in a direction longitudinally of the filling carrier.

In Fig. 4, a modified form of theinvention is illustrated, wherein the arm or member 31 which supports the filling carrier is pivotally mounted on a fixed point 32 on r arm or member 31 inthe modification shown by Fig. 4 is normally under the impulse of a spring 36, one end of which may rest within a suitable recess 37 formed in the head 4, and the other end of which may rest in a recess 38 formed in the back of the arm or member 31, the construction being such that the spring 36 normally holds the inclined supporting end portion 35 in position beneath the head or butt end portion of the filling carrier then in transfer rinmposition. When a filling carrier is being transferred from the rotary hopper 10, the head or butt end portion thereof will be forced downwardly into forceful engagement with the inclined portion 35 of the arm or member 31, and cause movement thereof in a direction longitudinally of the filling carrier, to cause the end 35 thereof to be withdrawn endwise beyond the head or butt of the filling carrier and permit it to and limit its movement longitudinally of the filling carrier under the impulse of the pass to the shuttle, as indicated by dotted spring 36, the arm or member 31 isprovided with an opening 39 through which passes a bolt or other adjusting stop &0, the head portion i1 of which engages the side of the arm or member 81 opposite the spring 36. An adjusting nut 42 serves to vary the position to which the end supporting portion '35 of the arm or member shall project over the end of the filling carrier in transferring position.

' While the yielding supporting arm may be advantageously employed'in various types of hopper supplying means, it is especially advantageous in connection with the rotary hopper type, as hereinbefore described, and while the recesses 21 or 33 in which may be guided and supported the arms or members for preventing accidental displacement of the filling carrier when in transferring position, may be conveniently formed by casting when the head i is produced, it is evident that it may be otherwise provided, the essential being that the arm for supporting the filling carrier in transferring position may be mounted, preferably in thehead, so that on transfer of a filling carrier from the hopper to the shuttle, it will, by engagement with the supporting end portion of the arm or member, cause the latter and perforce the supporting end, to move endwise orin a direction longitudinally of the filling carrier from beneath the end thereof, in order that the filling carrier may pass into the shuttle.

IVhat is claimed is 1. A filling battery for filling replenish,- ing looms, comprising, in combination, a stationary stand having a throat for the transfer of filling carriers, a rotary hopper for containing filling carriers, an arm mounted on the stationary stand for movement in a direction longitudinally of the filling carrier when in transferring position, and having a supporting end portion extending from the arm longitudinally of and beneath the. filling carrier when it has been moved into transferring position by the rotary hopper, and a spring on the stationary stand acting normally to maintain the end portion of the arm in the throat and extending longitudi-.

nally of and beneath one end of a filling carrier when it has reached transferring position by rotation of the hopper.

2. In a filling replenishing loom, the com bination of a stationary stand having a throat for the passage of filling carriers, a rotary hopper for containing filling carriers, an arm mounted in the stationary.

stand for movement in the vertical longitudinal plane passing through a filling carrier when in transferring position, a supoprting end portion carried by the arm and extending longitudinally of and beneath the head portion of a filling carrier in transferring position and obstructing the throat, and a spring normally acting upon the arm and yielding to permit the arm to move in a direction longitudinally of the filling carrier in transferring position to withdraw the supporting end'longitudinally from beneath the head of the filling carrier as it passes through the throat.

3. In a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a stationary .stand, a rotary hopper for containing filling carriers mounted in the stand, an arm mounted in the stand for movement in the vertical longitudinal plane passing through a filling carrier when in transferring position, a cam or incline for directing the movement of the arm, when the arm is actuated'by a passing filling carrier, a supporting end portion carried by the arm and extending longitudinally of and beneath the head portion of a filling carrier in transferring position, and a spring normally acting upon the arm and yielding to permit the arm to move in a direction longitudinally of the filling carrier in transferring position.

4. In a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a hopper for containing filling carriers, a stand having a throat for thepassage of filling carriers from the hopper to portion extending into the throat in a direction longitudinally of and beneath one end of a filling carrier in transferring position and mounted on the stand for bodily downward and swinging movement in a plane passed longitudinally of the filling carrier, and means for yieldingly supporting the arm for downward and swinging movements in said plane by the filling carrier as it is transferred.

5. In a filling replenishing loom, a stationary stand having a flange which is cutaway at one portion to form a throat for the passage of a filling carrier when in transferring position, a rotary hopper for the filling carriers, an arm mounted for movement in the vertical plane passing through a filling carrier when it is in transferring position, a supporting end portion carried by the. arm and extending into the cut-away portion of the flange to obstruct the throat through which the head of the filling carrier is to pass as it is transferred, and a spring actthe shuttle, an arm having a supporting end I ing to normally hold the end portion of the arm in the cut-away portion of the flange and yielding as the end portion of the arm is carrier to withdraw the end portion of the arm from the throat when a filling carrier is passed through the throat.

7. In a filling replenishing loom, the com- .bination of a stationary hopper stand having a throat for the passage of filling carriers, a rotary hopper mounted in the stand to successively present filling carriers above the throat for transfer, 'an arm mounted in the stationary stand and having a cam portion, a throat obstructing end extending from the arm and engaged and moved bya filling carrier as it is transferred to cause the arm to move bodily downwardly and the cam portion thereof to withdraw the end of the arm from its obstructing position in the throat.

8. In a filling replenishing loom, the combination of a stand, a rotary hopper, an arm having a slotted portion, a pin passing through the slotted portion, a spring normally maintaining the arm in one position with its end' supporting portion beneath a filling carrier in transferring position and yielding to permit downward movement of the arm as the filling carrier is transferred, a cam or incline and'a cooperating rest to cause movement of the end supporting portion of the arm in a direction longitudinally of the filling carrier from beneath the end thereof as the carrier is transferred.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALONZO E. RHOADES. 

